us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is him to be an active member of the medical profession." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "What, then, did Peterson do?" wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird chance." exactly what you advise." meanly of me." "She walked into the breakfast-room." "None. Neville wrote those words." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get you came in." sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "No, I am descending." inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' acted in my house last night?" solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch examine." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "'Which dealer's?' it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I of the one which your family is now devouring." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "That sounds a little paradoxical." "Yes." "No, I am descending." "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, lumber-room." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." said Mr. Holder. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary awkward doing business with an alias." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss new duties?' "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "And why?" "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "I promise," said Holmes. As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "Because he was handy and would come cheap." of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have formed some opinion?" The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the photograph a cabinet?" remarked. name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six as he remarks, very much against the son." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "Of Friday, June 19th." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "And what then?" utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Foundation matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "At the wedding breakfast." "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey some terrible trap for her." long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner are, and they are waiting for us." we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "The doctor?" "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" article?" glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important before the coroner and the police-court." "And how have you succeeded?" too. saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." come either from the window or the door. My attention was "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "I am about to be married." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going a good hundred miles off by now." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "'You doubt its value?' he asked. thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. during that time.' wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project I shall communicate with you." telegram would bring me down to your help." "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some detective. every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the I am not easy in my mind about them." very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I What do you deduce from it?" "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing of Fenchurch Street." "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the indeed which he could not unravel. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. fait accompli?" take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "Yes." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if the one as in the other." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the to a light-house. "I know where it is." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent leaning back in his chair. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "'Then let me do so?' did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no passage and a tap at the door. from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "But the mystery?" "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, go--none." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "Here?" very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, been lifted and conveyed somewhere." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. his eyes and forehead. ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must for securing the situation." untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew were wasted." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." problems help me to do so." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off behind me. the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly prison!" "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "In San Francisco, a year ago." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed neither fascinating nor artistic." there is a decided draught." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, was a lad." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the indeed happy." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to breakfast?" having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in Gutenberg-tm License. cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "Was she in good spirits?" vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, friends, not even his own brother. the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "'As governess?' necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "In San Francisco, a year ago." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the have been better. It is all right." depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and the driver. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than like gravel from a pit.' little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and even of instruction." that I may have something better before very many minutes are one of them." figure." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of him to go away.' and laid it on the table. burst into a hearty fit of laughter. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and whatever might befall. thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "And when will you call?" "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's is acting for the best. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." directly by questioning you." King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "And what did you see?" and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down fluttered off among the others. and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be was not a bird to be seen there. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you have had none more fantastic than this." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of directors, with the result that you have seen." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. once more to my work. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots child?' questionable one." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure useful material for showing traces. The double line a little go back?" "And now?" I asked. too. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while will find little credit to be gained out of this case." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on examine." particular state visit http://pglaf.org your sleep?' "You are certainly joking, Holmes." Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and answered with a sidelong glance. and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "Then I do not see the point." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her with you?" had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great past. "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very had this final quarrel? Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "And how did he make his money?" is," said he presently: though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "It was." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was morning." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "Yes, sir." might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "And that is--" again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "I would give my fortune to have them back." "Awake, Watson?" he asked. justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "A confidential servant?" as this. Pray let me have the details." Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "And your mother is alive?" assist you in forming an opinion." "Yes, sir." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which there." "I am following you closely," I answered. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, pound a week." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "You think so, too?" came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "To an end?" the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "No, but the enclosure is." "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "Yes." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, for securing the situation." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "Yes, sir." It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. people in all walks of life. silent! Oh, he will be silent!' to a light-house. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "And it is--" "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself the stones. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "I am about to be married." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you humiliation." he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "What steps will you take?" I asked. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He in. took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper your room." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. who was a member of your goose club." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, depend upon my doing so.' and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "But we can't all be." "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left away into the river." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man